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Meth bust in home owned by deputy

A man and woman were caught cooking methamphetamine inside a sheriff’s deputy’s home on Thursday in Hickory.

Deputies discovered two people in the process of manufacturing meth at a home on Highland Avenue in Hickory owned by Deputy Brian Hollar.

Sheriff Coy Reid said the home is empty and belonged to the deputy’s grandparents. Hollar is the executor of the estate, Reid said.

Authorities responded to 3141 Highland Ave. in Hickory about 2:30 a.m. Thursday after an officer located a vehicle behind the residence while doing a routine check-up.

Upon searching the residence, officers found two subjects as well as materials to make meth using the “shake and bake” method. Reid said the suspects had already started manufacturing the drug when officers arrived.

Sarah Marie Hall, 28, of 5708 Harwell Road in Catawba, and Austin Rusty Setzer, 30, were arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and breaking and entering. They are being held in the Catawba County Detention Center with their bonds set at $100,000 each.

Reid said Hollar did not know Hall or Setzer, nor did he know they were in the house. He said chemists from the State Bureau of Investigation were at the scene for hours Thursday cleaning up the hazardous materials.